Police officers on patrol. Masons in the police have been accused of covering up for fellow members and favouring them for promotion.
Photograph: Rodger Tamblyn/Alamy

A leader of England’s Freemasons has stepped out of the shadows to say members of the organisation have to be secretive because they are discriminated against.

This week a former leader of the Police Federation, Steve White, said reform in policing was being blocked by Freemasons, and their influence could thwart the progress of women and people from ethnic minorities.

Masons in the police have been accused of covering up for fellow members and favouring them for promotion.

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But in a letter to the Guardian and other national newspapers, the Freemasons said they had been unfairly treated.

David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England, said in the letter: “We are quietly proud that throughout history, when people have suffered discrimination both in public and social life, Freemasonry has welcomed them into our lodges as equals. It is a shame that Freemasons are now quite openly discriminated against and that too many of our members, therefore, feel the need to keep their membership to themselves.”

Critics of the Freemasons say the organisation is secretive and serves the interests of its members above the public interest.

Staples, who has worked as a senior NHS manager, said: “The idea that reform within the Police Federation or anywhere else is being actively thwarted by an organised body of Freemasons is laughable and suggests an unbelievable element of will and influence from an organisation which is non-political, non-religious, values integrity and upholds the law.

“In 2001 and again in 2007 the European court of human rights ruled that Freemasonry was not a secret or unlawful organisation. There is absolutely no reason why police officers, or anyone from any other walk of life, should not be a Freemason and we highlight our shared organisational values of integrity and service to the community.”

White made his remarks in a Guardian interview published on Sunday evening, and repeated them days later in an interview on the BBC’s Today programme.

White told the Guardian: “There have been occasions when colleagues of mine have suspected that Freemasons have been an obstacle to reform. We need to make sure that people are making decisions for the right reasons and there is a need for future continuing cultural reform in the Fed, which should be reflective of the makeup of policing.

“It’s about trust and confidence. There are people who feel that being a Freemason and a police officer is not necessarily a good idea. I find it odd that there are pockets of the organisation where a significant number of representatives are Freemasons.”

Staples claimed White had since backtracked on his remarks. “The articles show a complete and disappointing misrepresentation of Freemasonry. Furthermore, we understand, having spoken to the outgoing chairman of the Police Federation, that recent media coverage does not accurately reflect his views.”

This claim angered White, who said not only did he stand by his views, but they had been accurately reported. “Of course the piece in the Guardian accurately reflected my views. I have no issues with what has been reported,” he said. “The United Grand Lodge may speak for some in policing, but it does not speak to me. I stand by the comments as reported by the Guardian.”

There are a number of masons who are also police officers, and specific lodges for them. One is the Manor of St James, set up for Scotland Yard officers, which is male only, as is Sine Favore, set up in 2010 by Police Federation members.

One of the latter was John Tully, a Met officer who went on to become chair of the federation. After retiring from policing, he is an administrator at the United Grand Lodge of England.

White also said this week: “Some female representatives were concerned about Freemason influence in the Fed. The culture is something that can either discourage or encourage people from the ethnic minorities or women from being part of an organisation.”

He served as chair of the Police Federation from 2014 to 2017. The Fed represents rank and file police officers and is undergoing a process of radical reform after a series of scandals and controversies.